§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Minister of Agriculture how many and what animals were found to be infected with foot-and-mouth disease in the recent outbreak at Wales farm, Plumpton; how many and what animals were slaughtered there; what is the total cost to be borne; and by whom?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONTwo cows were found affected with foot-and-mouth disease in the recent outbreak at Wales Farm, Plumpton. 114 cattle, two sheep and 122 pigs were slaughtered as affected or as having been exposed to the risk of infection. The total cost is as follows:
£ s. d. Compensation 4,569 15 0 Costs of slaughtering, disposal of carcases, disinfection, etc. (approx.) 370 0 0 £4,939 15 0 This sum will be paid by the Ministry out of the Cattle Pleuro-Pneumonia Account for Great Britain.
§ Rear-Admiral BEAMISHasked the Minister of Agriculture in how many instances during the last five years has the Minister used his discretion not to slaughter animals which have not been exposed to any risk of infection from an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; whether the result has justified the exercise of this discretion and whether all the animals slaughtered in the recent outbreak at Wales Farm, Plumpton, had been exposed to the risk of infection?
§ Mr. BUXTONSection 15 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, empowers the Ministry to slaughter in connection with foot-and-mouth disease—
- (a) affected or suspected animals, and
- (b) animals which are or have been in the same place or herd as affected animals or which appear to have been exposed to infection.
In no case have animals been slaughtered during the past five years 989W which have not been exposed to any risk of infection. All the animals slaughtered in the recent outbreak at Wales Farm, Plumpton, consisting of 114 cattle, two sheep and 122 pigs, had been exposed to infection. 32 cattle which were grazing in outlying fields on the same farm and which did not appear to have been so exposed were not slaughtered.